FortSelden

New MexicoTerritory

8 May 1865 - April
1889

FortSelden is a territorial fort
established on the Rio Grande at the present
site of Radium Springs, New Mexico. The location was an ancient
Indian campground and a crossing point for Spanish caravans headed across the
Jornada del Muerto ("Journey of Death"). General Douglas McArthur
spent several years at FortSelden during his
childhood, during the period his father was the Commanding Officer. The fort's
ruins and museum offer an intriguing glimpse of the area's settlement.

In April, 1865, troops were ordered from Albuquerque
to the site of FortSelden to begin
construction on the post. Quarters for one company of infantry and one company
of cavalry, with sixty horses, were constructed. Troopers of the garrison did
the construction, along with some civilian workers and military prisoners.

The entire post was constructed of adobe, with flat, dirt-roofed,
one-story buildings, with the exception of the AdministrationBuilding.
Water was hauled by wagon from the Rio
Grande, and stored in large water barrels.

The nearest town was a rough place called Leasburg (still existing) which
had saloons, friendly ladies, and a bad reputation for violence -- it was soon
placed off limits to the soldiers. Dona Ana was twelve miles south, and Las Cruces several miles
further.

During the Civil War, up to 1870, privates
received $16 a month, corporals $20, up to the ordinance sergeants, who
received nearly $40. The pay scale was lowered by about $3 after 1870, which is
reported to have caused wholesale desertions.

3rd Cavalry1866-1870Companies B,K

4th Cavalry1883Troop B

8th Cavalry1870-1874Companies C,G,I,K

9th Cavalry1876-1877,1881Companies F,M

10th Infantry1886-1888Company D

13th Infantry1881-1886Companies B,D,K

15th Infantry1870,1873-1876,1881 Companies D,F,H,I,K

24th Infantry1888-1891Det. of Companies A,D,F,H

38th Infantry1867-1869Company K

125th Infantry1866-1867Companies A,E,F,I

Volunteers1865-1866

After the Civil War, Congress created four regiments of Black soldiers --
two of cavalry and two of infantry. The first regular army troops to garrison FortSelden
were four companies of the 125th Infantry.

The 9th Cavalry and the 21st, 38th and 125th Infantry were "Buffalo Soldiers" - units made up of Black
soldiers. The Indians referred to them as Buffalo
Soldiers because of their short, curly hair and fighting spirit - two attributes
shared with the buffalo.

Desertion was always a problem at FortSelden.
Post chores were monotonous and sometimes demeaning, and there was very little
to do except gamble, go to the Post Trader's bar, or the ladies and saloons of
Leasburg.

However, desertion usually decreased when Black soldiers garrisoned the
fort.

To protect the citizens of the MesillaValley from the Mescalero Apaches, the
commander of FortSelden established
several picket posts. Ten privates of the Third Cavalry were stationed at
Aleman Station, a halfway point on the Jornada del Muerto, which served
as a stage station, post office, and later a telegraph office.

The other picket post was at San Augustine Pass, a gap in the SanAndresMountains between Las
Cruces and White Sands. Livestock from nearby ranches
were constantly stolen by Indians around the pass, and several civilians
killed. In 1869, the post commander wrote that:

The San Augustine Pass is regarded by all as the most
dangerous place in this section of New
Mexico.

By 1882, El Paso
had grown into a major railroad center. Fort Bliss in El Paso was chosen for
expansion, and Fort Selden was doomed to be abandoned. In 1887, no expenditure
for repairs was authorized, and in 1888, the last full company of troops left.
The military reservation of Fort Selden was turned over to the Interior
Department in February of 1890. A small detachment of troopers from Fort Bayard
remained until January 20, 1891, when Lieutenant James E. Brett filed the last
post return:

All public property from this post having been
disposed of it was abandoned on this date.

Fort Selden was declared a New Mexico state monument in 1974.

The Fort Selden Visitor's Center displays exhibits depicting life at the
fort -- nineteenth-century military weapons, uniforms, archaeological
artifacts, and rare photographs of the U.S. Army in the West.

Fort Selden is located along the Rio Grande
approximately 13 miles north of Las Cruces, in southern New Mexico. Take I-25
north to the Radium Springs exit. Go west about two miles to the Fort Selden
State Monument. Food and gas are available locally, and camping is permitted at
Leasburg State Park, next to the monument.